Safety impact switch device for motor vehicles

ABSTRACT

A safety impact switch device is normally connected to the ignition system of a motor vehicle and is automatically disconnected by force of an impact resulting from a vehicle collision the disconnection being effected by movement of a comparatively heavy article connected to a contact member. The switch device is combined with reset apparatus, and one side of a housing provides the basic support for the mounting members that support the actuating mechanism of my device.

United States Patent [1 1 Panettieri [451 *Jan.l,1974

[ SAFETY IMPACT SWITCH DEVICE FOR MOTOR VEHICLES [76] Inventor: PietroPanettieri, Taunton, Mass.

[ Notice: The portion of the term of this patent subsequent to Feb. 22,1989, has been disclaimed.

[22] Filed: Aug. 5, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 169,408

[52] US. Cl. ZOO/61.50, 307/10 R [51] Int. Cl. H0lh 35/14 [5 8] Field ofSearch 200/6l.45-6l.53; 307/10 R [56] References Cited UNITED STATESPATENTS 2,013,924 9/1935 Nolte ZOO/61.51 X 2,142,369 1/1939 MullerKimball 200/153 LB 2,596,427 5/1952 Nordmark et a1. ZOO/61.51 2,804,5158/1957 Heggen ZOO/61.46 3,283,105 11/1966 Locke et a1... 200/166 SD3,644,690 5/1970 Panettieri ZOO/61.5

Primary ExaminerRobert K. Schaefer Assistant ExaminerM. GinsburgAttorney-Harold E. Cole [57] ABSTRACT A safety impact switch device isnormally connected to the ignition system of a motor vehicle and isautomatically disconnected by force of an impact resulting from avehicle collision the disconnection being effected by movement of acomparatively heavy article connected to a contact member. The switchdevice is combined with reset apparatus, and one side of a housingprovides the basic support for the mounting members that support theactuating mechanism of my device.

6 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures 1 SAFETY IMPACT SWITCH DEVICE FOR MOTORVEHICLES The principal object of my invention is to simplify such adevice by using fewer parts that can effect automatic electricaldisconnection, and that also provide reset mechanism to enable one torestore the electrical connection.

Reference is made to my US. Pat. No. 3,644,690 dated Feb. 22, 1972 forSafety Switch To Interrupt An Electrical Circuit In Case Of Collision.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of my switch apparatus showing the contactmembers engaged.

FIG. 2' is a diagrammatic view showing the contact members in openposition, so held by a cam that is part of reset mechanism.

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic view similar to FIG. 2, but showing the contactmembers engaged and the cam spaced from a resilient supporting extensionon which a contact member is mounted.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary, bottom plan view of the reset mechanism for mydevice.

FIG. 5 is a wiring diagram of the electrical circuit for my device.

As illustrated, my device has a housing or main support in the form of areceptacle having six sides identified as a bottom 12, a front 14, aback 16, two ends 18 and 20, and a top 22. Screws 24 hold said sides andtop together.

Mounting means for my mechanism includes two angular brackets 28 and 30that are attached to said bottom 12 by screws 32. Supporting extensions28a and 30a of said brackets 28 and 30 are in said housing. A thirdangular bracket 36 is bolted as at 38 to said bottom 12 and it has aresilient, supporting extension 36a within said housing. Thus, saidbottom 12 is the basic support for my device.

Supported by said supporting extension 36a is first contact mechanismhaving a contact member 42 shown as a screw that extends throughextension 36a and is connected to the latter by attaching means thatincludes an insulator ring 44 around said contact members 42 and next toa head 42a of the latter. Next to said ring 44 is a retaining member 46that bears on said extension 36a. On the opposite side of the latter isan insulator ring 48 against which a retaining nut 50 bears. Anotherinsulator ring 52 bears against a retaining nut 54 that is spaced from asimilar nut 56. A conductor 58 wire is firmly held between said nuts 54and 56. Said latter nuts screw-threadedly connect with said contactmember 42.

Directly opposite said contact member 42 in position of use is othercontact mechanism having a contact member 62 which includes an elongateportion 64 that continues in the form of a bearing member 66 that bearsagainst said bracket supporting extension 30a and is pivotally movabletherein. Said elongate portion 64 continues through said supportingextension 30a and a weight 68 is mounted thereon, being held by a setscrew 70 which makes it possible to adjust the position of the weight onsaid elongate portion 64.

A coil spring 74 is attached at one end to the terminus or end of saidcontact member portion 64. At its opposite end said spring 74 isattached to a screw 78 by entering a hole 80 therethrough, which screwextends through and connects with a screw-threaded hole in saidsupporting extension 28a. Said screw 78 is held in vehicle carrying mydevice will not cause disturbance of said weight sufficient to draw saidcontact member 62 apart from contact member 42, whereas a substantialimpact will.

Reset apparatus 86 is mounted on said housing front 14, to which a block88 held by screws 90 is attached. A retaining member 92 shown as amovable ball protrudes from said block, being movably retained inposition by a collar 94 around it that bears on said block.

An actuating spring 96 extends into said block and is held against saidretaining ball 92 by a screw 98. Actuating means has a circular mounting100 that is held by screws 101 that enter said front 14. A shaft 102extends at one end through said mounting 100 into a cam 103 having arecess 103a, and that is eccentrically mounted on said shaft, being heldby a set screw 104. The opposite end of said shaft extends through saidfront 14 and is fixed in a handle 106 that is outside of said front 14.

A suitable electrical circuit is shown in said FIG. 5. Normallyelectrical current flows from a source of supply, not shown, through aconductor wire 112 held by a retainer 114 which wire 112 extends to oneside of a well-known switch 116 having its box inside the housing, and abutton 117 outside thereof. A return wire 118 held by a retainer 120extends to another side of said switch'll6. Another wire 122 extendsfrom said wire 112 to said contact member 42. Also, a wire 124 extendsfrom said wire 118 to a ground clip 126 on said supporting extension30a. in the event the contact between members 42 and 62 is broken, as inan automobile collision, any current reaching said wire 118 will begrounded.

Normally said contact members 42 and 62 are in contact and saidsupporting extension 36a is under sufficient tension to press saidcontact 42 so as to contact said member 62. Said cam I03 normally bearsagainst said ball 92 and is spaced from said extension 36a.

When said weight 68 is upset, as by the impact of a collision, saidcontact members 42 and 62 are separated, thus breaking the circuit. Torestore said contact members to engaging position said handle 106 isrotated until said cam bears against said extension 36a thus moving saidcontact member 42 away from said member 62; but to a position directlyopposite the latter. Then upon rotating said handle 106 and moving saidcam 103 to normal position where it bears against said ball 92 uponentering said recess 103a, said extension 36a is freed and it causessaid contact member 42 to contact said member 62, thus restoring theelectrical circuit.

Should it be desired to avoid use of my device said switch button ismoved to off position which by-passes my device.

Since changes may be made in the above device without departing from thescope of the invention herein involved, it is intended that all mattercontained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawingshall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What I claim is:

l. A safety impact switch device for use on motor vehicles, comprising ahousing, a first and a second angular bracket attached to said housingeach having a supporting extension within the interior of said housing,a third angular bracket attached to said housing having a resilientsupporting extension within the interior of said housing, first contactmechanism supported by said resilient supporting extension and having afirst contact member, second contact mechanism supported by said secondbracket supporting extension having a second contact member normallydirectly opposite and contacting said first contact member, a weightconnected to said second contact mechanism that is susceptible topredetermined shock and is adapted to react therefrom by movement toseparate said two contact members from normal position, spring meansattached to said weight and supported by said first bracket extension,and conducting means attached to one of said contact members adapted tonormally establish an electrical circuit through said contact memberswhen the latter are in normal position.

2. A safety impact switch device as of claim 1, and reset apparatusattached to said housing at a point spaced from and angularly to saidthree brackets, and having a cam, a shaft attached to said cam andextending outside of said housing, said cam being eccentrically mountedon said shaft and so positioned that it is spaced from said resilient,supporting extension normally, but upon movement bears against saidlatter extension and is adapted to move the latter and said firstcontact member to a point spaced from said second contact member. I

3. A safety impact switch device as of claim 1, said second contactmechanism having an elongate portion, said weight being adjustablymounted on said elongate portion, and a screw extending into said weightand normally bearing on said elongate portion to adjustably hold saidweight in predetermined position thereon.

4. A safety impact switch device as of claim 2, and a block mounted onsaid housing, a retaining member supported by said block and projectingbeyond and normally contacting said cam to thereby hold said resetapparatus in predetermined position.

5. A safety impact switch device as of claim 2, and a handle fixedlyattached to said cam shaft and being outside of said housing.

6. A safety impact switch device as of claim 1, said housing having twooppositely disposed ends, a switch and a box therefor attached to one ofsaid housing ends and extending into the interior thereof, said switchbeing connected to said conducting means, and a switch button connectedto said switch and being outside of said housing and extending throughsaid latter housing end.

1. A safety impact switch device for use on motor vehicles, comprising ahousing, a first and a second angular bracket attached to said housingeach having a supporting extension within the interior of said housing,a third angular bracket attached to said housing having a resilientsupporting extension within the interior of said housing, first Contactmechanism supported by said resilient supporting extension and having afirst contact member, second contact mechanism supported by said secondbracket supporting extension having a second contact member normallydirectly opposite and contacting said first contact member, a weightconnected to said second contact mechanism that is susceptible topredetermined shock and is adapted to react therefrom by movement toseparate said two contact members from normal position, spring meansattached to said weight and supported by said first bracket extension,and conducting means attached to one of said contact members adapted tonormally establish an electrical circuit through said contact memberswhen the latter are in normal position.
 2. A safety impact switch deviceas of claim 1, and reset apparatus attached to said housing at a pointspaced from and angularly to said three brackets, and having a cam, ashaft attached to said cam and extending outside of said housing, saidcam being eccentrically mounted on said shaft and so positioned that itis spaced from said resilient, supporting extension normally, but uponmovement bears against said latter extension and is adapted to move thelatter and said first contact member to a point spaced from said secondcontact member.
 3. A safety impact switch device as of claim 1, saidsecond contact mechanism having an elongate portion, said weight beingadjustably mounted on said elongate portion, and a screw extending intosaid weight and normally bearing on said elongate portion to adjustablyhold said weight in predetermined position thereon.
 4. A safety impactswitch device as of claim 2, and a block mounted on said housing, aretaining member supported by said block and projecting beyond andnormally contacting said cam to thereby hold said reset apparatus inpredetermined position.
 5. A safety impact switch device as of claim 2,and a handle fixedly attached to said cam shaft and being outside ofsaid housing.
 6. A safety impact switch device as of claim 1, saidhousing having two oppositely disposed ends, a switch and a box thereforattached to one of said housing ends and extending into the interiorthereof, said switch being connected to said conducting means, and aswitch button connected to said switch and being outside of said housingand extending through said latter housing end.